What the state of Illinois defines as the Galesburg area has an unemployment rate that’s lower as of September compared to the same period a year ago, that doesn’t necessarily tell the whole story.
The Galesburg-area (Galesburg Micropolitan Statistical Area) unemployment average, according to federal data through the Illinois Department of Employment Security, is at 5.3%, down three-tenths of a percentage point from the year before. However, the data shows there are less people listed as employed in the area (19,393 versus 20, 784 in September 2023), but also that less people are unemployed (1,075 versus 1,162).
The labor force is also lower (20, 468 versus 20, 784)
In terms of jobs themselves, gains in sectors including Private Education-Health Services, Professional-Business Services, Government, and Construction sectors, were largely offset by declines in Financial Activities, Leisure-Hospitality, Manufacturing, and Trade-Transportation-and Utilities. Overall, the job increase was listed as 100.
The City of Galesburg unemployment average is at 5.7%, down from 6.3%.
The Knox County average is at 5.3% percent from 5.6%, and Warren County is at 4.6%, up a tenth of a percentage point.
Some area counties saw unemployment rates go up in the year-over-year period.
Henry County’s went up three-tenths to 5.8%.
Fulton County’s went up a tenth to 4.9%.
And Mercer County’s went up a full percentage point to 5.4%. The total number of people listed in the labor force there, and the number of people employed went down. That’s while the number of unemployed went up.
“An expanding labor market and job growth across the state continues to instill drive and motivation in workers and jobseekers searching for new employment opportunity,” claims Deputy Gov. Andy Manar, in a news release.
While the Illinois Department of Employment Security is claiming that jobs were up and unemployment was down in a majority of metropolitan areas of the state, the statewide not-seasonally adjusted unemployment average of 5.0% in September is up from 4.7% the year before.
The U.S. unemployment average was at 3.9% in September, 2024, compared to 4.7% in September, 2023.
(The state cautions that all data is not seasonally adjusted, and that the current month is only preliminary.)
SEPTEMBER, 2024 AREA UNEMPLOYMENT RATES (SEPTEMBER, 2023 IN PARENTHESES)
Galesburg City: 5.7% (6.3%)
Fulton County: 4.9% (4.8%)
Henderson County: 3.7% (4.0%)
Henry County: 5.8% (5.5%)
Knox County: 5.3% (5.6%)
McDonough County: 4.6% (4.7%)
Mercer County: 5.4% (4.4%)
Peoria County: 5.5% (5.5%)
Stark County: 4.7% (5.2%)
Warren County: 4.6% (4.5%)
“Galesburg Micropolitan Statistical Area”: 5.3% (5.6%)
State of Illinois: 5.0% (4.7%)
United States: 3.9% (4.7%)
